If you’re learning a language, which skill is more important: speaking or comprehension? For me, the answer is obvious. Comprehension is the foundation of language learning. You can effectively communicate despite the occasional error or lapse in fluidity. However, communication breaks down if your comprehension is low. Native speakers have tens of thousands of words at their disposal, countless ways to express an idea, and endless variations in response. If your comprehension skills aren’t strong, the conversation won’t last long.
So how do you improve your comprehension skills? I’ve found five key strategies that make all the difference.
1) Forget the 95% Rule
A common myth in language learning is that you need to understand 95% of a text to benefit from it. I completely disagree. Reading and listening to material in another language requires a certain level of patience and tolerance for ambiguity. Understanding 95% of a text may feel more approachable, but we should be able to push ourselves a little further.
With modern tools like LingQ, however, I’m able to push myself to read material where 10-15% of the words are unknown. For me, this is the sweet spot for rapid vocabulary growth. Sticking to material with only 5% unknown words means you’re barely learning anything new. Push your boundaries, embrace unknown words, and let the language sink in.
2) Build Prior Knowledge
One of the biggest keys to improving comprehension is prior knowledge. If you already know something about a topic, understanding new words in that context becomes much easier. Research has shown that front-loading vocabulary lists isn’t as effective as encountering new words in a familiar context.
What’s the best way to leverage this? Choose content that you actually care about. Too often, foreign language teachers force content onto learners that is completely foreign to their interests and background. Instead, find materials on topics that you’re already familiar with. If you’re interested in cooking, read recipes. If you love history, dive into historical texts. Prior knowledge helps the language stick more easily.
3) Get It Wrong the First Time
A big mistake language learners make is expecting to understand everything perfectly the first time. That’s not how language acquisition works. Instead, I embrace the philosophy of “get it wrong the first time.” When I listen to a podcast or read a difficult text, I know I’ll only understand part of it. That’s fine. The growth occurs when I give the text a second try, and then a third, picking up more each time.
Think of it like mowing the lawn. If the grass is too long, you don’t cut it all at once. You take a high pass first, then a second pass to trim it down further. Language is the same. Let your brain absorb what it can on the first go, and revisit it later to refine your understanding.
4) Narrow the Range of Subjects
When working on comprehension, focus on one subject at a time. If you listen to a political podcast, stick with that topic for a while. If you’re diving into business content, keep reading and listening to similar materials. Why? Because vocabulary repeats itself within specific subject areas.
Jumping from a politics podcast to a novel about romance to an article on astronomy means you’re constantly facing new, unfamiliar words. Stay within a particular domain long enough to see words and phrases repeat naturally, helping them stick in your memory.
5) Leverage the Power of Listening
Reading helps you grow your vocabulary, but listening trains your brain to process language quickly and naturally. I always listen first to get the gist of a topic, then read to solidify my understanding. Also, for a language learner, listening tends to move faster than reading, meaning you get exposure to more content in less time.
One trick I use? I speed up audio when listening. The brain adjusts, and I actually comprehend more because I stay engaged. Slow speech can be harder to follow because the gaps make it easier to lose track of meaning. Push yourself to listen at normal or even increased speeds—it will pay off.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
The road to strong comprehension isn’t about memorizing grammar rules or answering comprehension questions in a textbook. It’s about consuming as much language as possible, accepting that you won’t understand everything at first, and letting your brain do the work over time.
If you consistently read, listen, and expose yourself to content that challenges you, your comprehension will improve. And once comprehension is strong, everything else—speaking, writing, and overall fluency—follows naturally.
So, trust the process, keep consuming the language, and enjoy the journey. Happy learning!
Enjoy this post? Watch my full video on how to improve your comprehension on my YouTube channel.
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